The Federal Reserve on Monday laid out rules for banks seeking to repay taxpayer bailout funds, clearing the way for the 19 largest financial institutions to wind down their reliance on government support. Full story »

The Obama administration is attempting to revive a stalled government foreclosure prevention program that could restore equity to hundreds of thousands of borrowers whose home values have plummeted. Full story »

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether shareholders can sue Merck over whether the drugmaker provided adequate information about the risks of its former blockbuster painkiller Vioxx before it was pulled from the market. Full story »

Cougar Biotechnology, the developer of cancer medicines that Johnson & Johnson agreed to buy last week, said its lead experimental drug worked against prostate tumors in a company-sponsored study. Full story »

Q. What is the advantage or disadvantage of not having a will in the State of New Jersey, even if the husband and wife have joint ownership of the house? The cars and the stock certificates are in one or the other's name. The wife is the beneficiary of the husband's life insurance and the husband is the beneficiary of... Full story »

In the early 1990s, when customers began worrying about the dangers of dry-cleaning chemicals, the owner of the high-end Linder's French Cleaners in Bernardsville whipped up his own batch of eco-friendly detergent and wrote a how-to manual on wet cleaning. But the trend for wet cleaning never really caught on, and even Linder's continued to do a lot of its... Full story »

The turtleneck from designer Marc Jacobs costs hundreds of dollars at Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue. But at one Brooklyn bar, the charcoal-gray sweater was free for the taking -- along with jeans, belts and shoes. The neighborhood watering hole called Sycamore will never be mistaken for a department store, but for some recession-battered consumers, it's serving a similar... Full story »

More than 300 military veterans are expected to attend a career fair in New York on May 28 to help service members find jobs. The RecruitMilitary Career Fair will take place from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. at Madison Square Garden. Veterans will be able to interview with national, regional and local employers as part of the event, which will be... Full story »

Question: My father pays an unreal amount in quarterly taxes. He is 73, retired, but still draws dividends from fast-food restaurants plus his Social Security. What is the tax law about monetary gifts to children without paying taxes on that income? Are grandchildren also an eligible deduction? -- Leslye Full story »

Mother's Day is May 10, and a lot of Moms I have talked to lately say this year, instead of a traditional gift, they want something that makes them feel appreciated. So I've come up with a few gifts that come from the heart -- not the wallet. Full story »

WASHINGTON -- Riding a crest of populist anger, the House approved a bill yesterday to restrict credit card practices and eliminate sudden increases in interest rates and late fees that have entangled millions of consumers. The legislation passed by a bipartisan vote of 357-70 following lobbying by President Obama and members of his administration. Full story »

I want to get my home appraised, but there have been only foreclosures and short sales lately in my neighborhood. I can't see how an appraiser can produce enough "comps" to accurately determine my home's true market value. -- William P. Full story »

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner convinced Wall Street to give banks another chance yesterday. Geithner's assertion that "the vast majority" of banks have enough capital pulled stocks from a slump that began with a sell-off Monday and spilled over into yesterday morning. Geithner also told a congressional oversight committee that some banks would be allowed to repay financial bailout funds with... Full story »